Nine new community representatives for pastoral care and grief support!

Nine new community representatives for pastoral care and grief support!

At a time when grief support and funeral services are becoming increasingly important, the diocese of Dresden-Meißen has taken a significant step. On October 15, 2025, nine community officers were officially assigned to the funeral service. This step clearly shows that in the larger parishes the priests can no longer bear the burden of grief counseling and funerals alone. The support of trained community representatives is becoming increasingly important in order to support the mourners and to bury the deceased with dignity Diocese of Dresden-Meißen reported.

The first steps in practical service have already been positively received. The commissioning of these nine new forces was carried out by Bishop Timmerevers, who in his decision appointed the following people:

• Matthias Demmich (Pfarrei Leipzig-Süd)
• Stephan Kupka (Pfarrei Zittau)
• Lutz Kinmayer (Pfarrei Schleiz)
• Barbara Ludewig (Pfarrei Auerbach)
• Katharina Luther (Pfarrei Leipzig-Propstei)
• Patricia März (Pfarrei St. Martin Dresden)
• Lenka Peregrinova (Pfarrei Dippoldiswalde)
• Regina Schulze (Pfarrei Meißen)
• Vinzenz Hruschka (Pfarrei Leipzig-West)

A part-time training course was launched in 2023 that focused specifically on the topics of grief support, forms of burial and liturgical aspects in the face of death. Under the direction of Dr. Stephan George, liturgy officer for the diocese, the participants took part in several study days, which also included a visit to a funeral home.

Literature and practice

The liturgical practice of the funeral service has a long tradition. So reported Diocese of Mainz that community and pastoral advisors in the Diocese of Mainz have been providing this important service for around 20 years. The high level of approval from relatives of the deceased demonstrates the importance of this pastoral service, which is firmly integrated into the pastoral guidelines.

In May 2020, Bishop Kohlgraf's guidelines were amended to allow for general commissioning of the funeral service. Today, the training of community officers includes practical exercises supported by internships and testing under the guidance of a mentor. The existing speakers can also gain further qualifications for the funeral service through further training and participation in courses.

Volunteers in the funeral service

But not only full-time staff are needed. In the Diocese of Essen it is clear that volunteer women and men can also play a valuable role in the funeral service. They have been trained there since 2014 and are authorized to hold condolence meetings and lead funeral ceremonies on their own responsibility, like this Diocese of Essen explained.

There are special qualification courses for everyone who is considering such a voluntary task. These include both theological questions and practical experiences. In order to be qualified for the service, participants must not only be baptized and confirmed, but also be at least 25 years old and receive a recommendation from the pastoral team and the parish council.

The funeral service is therefore not just a one-off event, but a profound pastoral task that affects the entire community. In this challenge, empathy, charity and communication skills are particularly required.